Fire-escape



(No Model.)

T. ELLISON. FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 462,244. Patented Nov 3, 1891.

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UNITED STATES THOMAS ELLISON, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFiCE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,244, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed March 28, 1891- Serial No. 386,750. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS ELLIsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to m ake and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of the invention and is a perspective View. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly broken away.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fire-escapes particularly applicable to the construction de scribed and claimed in my patent, No. 431,566, dated July 8, 1890; and the invention consists in the features hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter A designates a block suitably secured to the wall of a building and having pivotally secured thereto the ladder B, provided with the adjustable extension B at its lower end and with the handrails a, all substantially described in my patent above referred to.

0 represents a platform,which may be either of wood or metal, hinged or otherwise pivotally secured to the wall of the building and extending sufficiently to both sides of the ladder to be readily accessible from a door or window. Balconies or brackets D are secured beneath said doors or windows to support the ends of the platform when in use, and these balconies or supporting-brackets are provided with railings d.

A platform E is hinged or pivotally secured at its rear edge to the front edge of the platform C in such a manner as to partially fold up against the under side of the latter when not in use. At the front edge of the platform E is a rod or bolt, which extends through the rear edges of the side rails of the ladder, or otherwise made fast thereto, as by having one of the rungs passed through the edge thereof.

This platform E may be of one continuous piece, either of wood or metal; or, as shown, it may consist of two pieces, one hinged at either side of the ladder and provided with the railings e, which, when the parts are in operative position, connect with the railings (Z, forming a continuous railing and making it perfectly safe for a person to pass from the windows to the ladder.

A rod or bar F is connected to the platform or other suitable point of the device and extends through into the interior of the buildin g', in order that the platform and escape may be pushed into position from the interior of the building, if desired. A rope G is also provided for the purpose of raising the platform and escape to its normal position.

It will be seen that when not in use the platform and escape may be turned back against the wall of the building, the platform E resting against the under side thereof and permitting the ladder to hang in a vertical position. hen in this position, an open space will be left between the sides of the'ladder and the balconies, preventing the entrance of any person into the building. \Vhen pushed out into operative position, the platform will lie in a horizontal position with the railings, rendering it easy and safe for a person to pass from the windows or doors to the ladder, the ladder itself being inclined and held away from the building, the lower end of the extension B resting upon the ground. This lower end is provided with a roller 11 to facilitate its operation. A cord or chain K is also connected to the platforrn,passing thence through the wall into the interior of the building, where it is connected to a bell or alarm for the purpose of giving a signal to the occupants of the'house if the ladder is moved from the outside. A suitable weight L'normally holds the slack ofthis cord inside the building. An oil-cloth cap (not shown) may be connected to the ladder, covering the hingejoints of the platform E, but leaving them free when the parts are adjusted to operative position.

One or more of these escapes may be applied to a building as may be desired, being simple, cheap, effective, and durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

-1. The combination, with the ladder having a pivotal connection at its upper end to the building and at its lower end provided with an adjustable extension, 'of a platform connected to said ladder and also hinged to the building, and the rod or bar F, connected to said escape and extending into the interior of the building, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a ladder having a pivotal connection at its-upper end to the building, of a platform secured at its front edge to said ladder and at its rear edge hinged or pivotally secured to a second platform havin g a hinged or pivotal connection to the wall of the building, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a ladder having a pivotal connection at its upper end to the building and provided at its lower end with an adjustable extension, of the platforms hinged or pivotally secured at their rear edges to a second platform hinged to the wall of the railings, the ropes or rods for adjusting said parts, and the alarm connected therewith, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS ELLISON.

Witnesses:

J. S. LATIMER, JOHN C. GORDON. 

